Fun Ideas for Strong Single Moms looking for Kid Friendly Fun

We love playing with our children!  But sometimes, the constant quest for something fun to do with our kids can find our bank accounts dwindling faster than we would like.  No matter what your personal finances look like, it’s always nice to find kid-friendly fun without having to break the bank.

Some Strong Single Mom favorites for Family Friendly Fun on a budget:

• Local Library. This is a great place to take your children, especially toddler age through the Tween years.  Check your local library’s website, sometimes they have story time or other organized activities for young children.  On your own, you can check out books the kids can have fun reading, and often even videos and audio books.  Also look for books for fun crafts to create or activities to do with your children.  **Additional Resource:  For a list of public libraries in your area, click here.
• Historic Museums. No matter where you live, there are registered historic museum sites that can provide a fun adventure for you and the kids.  Usually the preserved home of an early founder of your community, these homes usually provide site tours, either guided or on your own.  A fun way to get the most out of your experience is to do a little internet research on the family and/or era that the historic site represents.  Create a character for yourself and your children that correlates with the times.  For example: visiting the site of Ulysses S Grant’s home in Galena, IL?  Pretend you are a Civil War era family, and talk about what your challenges might have been during that time.  Use it as an opportunity to teach your kids about why the war was fought, the importance of freedom and equality, the list goes on!  **Additional Resource:  To find a list of Historic Sites in your area, begin your search by clicking here.
• Outdoor Activities. You’ve probably been to your local playground many times.  But there are endless opportunities for outdoor exploration.  Try driving to a park in the next town over.  Sometimes just the change of scenery and a ten minute drive make an old activity seem brand new.  Hiking trails to explore, city pools, and outdoor malls all provide free or low cost entertainment.  Or fill up a play pool in the backyard, break out the water guns and water balloons, and have a water park day right in your own backyard!  **Additional Resource: Find and explore hiking trails near you.  Start your search by clicking here.
• Crafts and games. If you’re looking for some budget friendly fun without leaving home, try having a game night.  Pull out some of the old board games, and have at it!  My kids and I are having a Summer Game-A-Thon this year.  Throughout the summer, we’ve made it a goal to play every board game we have.  This makes it a fun way to play games we normally wouldn’t choose, and there’s never the “what are we doing tonight?” question.  After dinner, they’re excited to choose a new game and have fun!  We take some nights off, but overall it’s been incredibly fun!  Crafts are also a fantastic way to encourage creativity.  **Additional Resource: For fun craft ideas, start your search by clicking here.
• The Dollar Store. I love the dollar store for an outing with the kids!  We pile in the car, head over check out what’s new, and have fun shopping.  I offer the kids one item each, which brings my total bill to $2.00 and change.  Not a bad deal!  Sure, the toys are cheap and often fall apart within the week, but so what?  We had a good time, and it didn’t break the bank.  **Additional Resource:  Find the Dollar Tree store in your area.  Begin your search by clicking here.

Hopefully this gives you a few good ideas for fun with the kids that won’t break the bank.  Have any additional ideas?  We’d love to hear them!  Please share your ideas with our Strong Single Moms by leaving a comment below!

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